STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A social media storm about a European weather model prediction of a massive blizzard for this weekend is causing panic in everyone from worried parents to home-bound senior citizens.

But the predictions are unfounded -- at least for now. Meteorologists here say it's simply too early to tell.

"I've seen some stuff on Facebook about the European model, but that's only one model. We look at dozens of models. Just because one model says it's going to snow a lot doesn't mean it will," said Joe Pollina, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y.

"We are trying to deflate the hype. It (the snow storm) may turnout to be true, but at this point we are not forecasting any totals for the snow," he added.

What has gotten people so frantic is that it was the very same European
model that predicted early on the magnitude Hurricane Sandy would have on
the East Coast.

"Hurricane Sandy came up on all the weather models. I don't personally remember but maybe the European model
caught onto it first," said Pollina.

The Facebook post -- shared more than 41,000 times on the Delmarva Firefighter Forums Facebook page -- shows a weather model that predicts a major blizzard for Feb. 8 through 10 that would dump 34 inches of snow on the New York and New Jersey area.

But local meteorologists warn Facebook and Twitter followers that it's
nearly impossible to predict a blizzard 10 days before a snowfall.

"The model was posted 10 days out; that's very far out. What happens with models is as you get further on in time, errors creep up and get bigger and bigger...Officially, we don't forecast snowfall totals out that far," said Pollina.

"Weather models are basically mathematical equations based on physics, and there are different types of physics that model certain processes that we don't know too well, and that's why we have differences between models," he added.

The Facebook post showcasing the weather model even has the disclaimer, "Hey, we don't predict the weather, nor do we have any desire to ever start doing so."

"Twenty-four to 34 inches of snow or more is currently being predicted for parts of Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and the NYC region. A lot can change between now and then, these are early models, but that's what the weather folks are seeing," said the post.

But the current weather forecast for Staten Island for Friday into Saturday night only calls for a 30 to 40 percent chance of snow, said Pollina.

Predicated temperatures for Friday night are a low of 21 degrees, and a high near 34 degrees on Saturday, he said.

"Saturday night there's a 30 percent chance for snow. By Sunday we have a chance of rain then snow and a high of 39 degrees," said Pollina.

But before the weekend hits, there's likely to be at least another snowfall.

"Starting Tuesday night snow will start before 4 a.m., and we'll see a wintery mix of freezing rain and sleet with lows around 30 degrees," he said.